title: Specific and nonspecific immunostimulation study of Euphorbia hirta on Pseudomonas fluorescens-infected Cyprinus carpio.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infectious diseases are one of the major factors affecting the production of fish worldwide. The pathogens (especially bacteria) affect the immune system of fish and the administration of immunostimulants can increase resistance to infectious diseases by enhancing both specific and nonspecific defense mechanisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we have conducted an experiment on the pathogen-infected Cyprinus carpio Linn. (Cyprinidae), using Euphorbia hirta Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) plant leaves as immunostimulants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aqueous extract of the leaves was prepared and the immunostimulant action was recorded by giving different concentrations of plant extract supplemented diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained from the studies show that the higher concentration of the extract (50 g/kg diet) provided significant immune response (specific and nonspecific) on the fish. The 50 g/kg leaf extract of E. hirta enhanced the phagocytic ratio on 10th and 15th day after the infection. The results of the specific and nonspecific immunostimulation studies are statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work will guide the researchers for the discovery of significant aquaculture nutrients to improve the immunostimulant action on fish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquaculture Biotechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Alwarkurchi, Tamil Nadu, India. vpratheepa@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pratheepa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sukumaran
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D002347:Carps / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D028481:Euphorbia; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000662:veterinary; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010936:Plant Extracts